Improvement in boots and shoes



I L m HER, WSHINGTON D C lNirEn STATES ATENT OFFICE.,

CHARLES MAYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOTS AND SHOES.

Speciication forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,7841, dated August 9, 1864; antedatcd June 3, 1864.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES MEYER, of

the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description ot the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part ot' this specication, in which- Figure l represents a sectional side elevation ot'myinvention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevat'on ot the same.

Similar letters of reference in both cases indica-te corresponding parts.

This invention relates, particularly, to an improvement in laced shoes or balmoral boots, and the principal object of the invention is to enable the wearer to take oi' said boots or shoes without unlacing them simply by withdrawing a pin. Furthermore, by the application of my invention to boots or shoes the ankle of the foot is braced or supported, and the wrinkling or creasing ot' those parts contiguous to the back seam of such boot-s or shoes is prevented.

The nature ofthe invention and its peculiarities will be readily understood from the following.description.

A represents a shoe, made of leather or any other suitable material, and of that class generally known by the term of balmoral boots. My invention, however, is not confined to this p: rlicu'ar class of boots or shoes, and I-have only represented a shoe of this kind because it is best adapted to give an illustration of the nature of my improvement. The back seam ot this shoe, instead of being produced by stitching, is composed ot a series of loops or hinges, a, which are secured to the leather or.t

other material composing the shoe by mea-ns Vof rivets b, or in any other suitable manner.

A pin, c, passing through the hinges a, closes the back seam perfectly firm. The hinges a extend down to the cap d, the upper part ot' which is made of india-rubberl cloth or other elastic material, and the pin c is made of cop` per wire or other soi't material, so that the same allows the hinges t to accommodate themselves :to the sinnosities of the foot, as

clearly shown in`Fig. 1 ot the drawings.

The shoe is fastened in front by lacing c in the usual manner, and in putting it on thc pin o is inserted into the hinges a, and the lacing is untastened the same as it is in putting on a shoe of the ordinary construction. The operation of taking oft' the shoe, however, is considerably facilitated, and it can be accomplished simply by withdrawing the pin e without unfasteningy the lacing. After the shoe has been taken ott' the lacing can be unfastened at leisure and perfectly easy, while the operation of unfastening the lacing before the shoe is taken oft' is tedious and annoying, particularly in dirty weather, Where such boots are particularly worn.

By the application of the hinges a to the back seam otl a boot or shoe still another advantage is obtained. Said hinges support the ankle and prevent the wrinkling and creasingjof those parts contiguous to the back seam. A boot or shoe constructed according to my invention, therefore, retains its shape until it is completely worn out and the heel is not liable to wear uneven.

I do not claim, broadly, the invention of a back opening, for my improvement is not limited by the position of the opening; but

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment of the pin c and hinges d in combination with boots and shoes, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein shown and described.

(l-HAS. MAYER.

Witnesses Trios. L. J. DOUGLAS, GEO. W. REED. 

